Well it looks like this thread has gone full circlejerk, but I'm going to actually say that the integration of sports with universities is on the large part beneficial. It isn't in the athletes best interests for sure. And there are cases, like in the topic of this thread, where it can lead to inappropriate uses of funds or abuses of power. But in general, university sports teams, particularly football and basketball teams at large universities, rake in incredible amounts of cash. Obscene amounts. And while lots gets funneled into other sports programs, lots also goes to everything else at the school, from facilities, to scholarships, to salaries, etc. Thats all money that would be going to privately owned sports franchises if proper minor leagues existed. It sucks for the actual student athletes, but for the average student, its actually a net positive.

The real issue with American Universities are the ridiculous costs to get an education, which would actually be higher than they are now if they weren't subsidized by sporting events. There are a lot of factors that play into these runaway costs, but sports teams aren't necessarily one of them (in most cases).

A lot of people here seem to have jumped at the chance to prop up this article, and collegiate sports in general, as a scapegoat for their frustrations with the modern American University, even though the two aren't actually that related.